How to Pronounce Less

To pronounce "less", say LESS — one syllable, IPA /lɛs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

less

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/lɛs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “less”

"less" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with nonetheless and nevertheless, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: les — easy to mix up when writing.

What does less mean?

noun

  1. A smaller amount or quantity.

    “I have less to do today than yesterday.”

verb

  1. To make less; to lessen.

adverb

  1. To a smaller extent or degree.

    “I like him less each time I see him.”

Antonyms

more

Hear “less” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with less

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

nonethelessneverthelesscoalescedistressacquiesceaddresscaressassessprocessegressexpressfinesse

Related words

inferiorlowerfewerdiminishedreduceddecreasinglyreducedecrease

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "less"?▾

"Less" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "less"?▾

The IPA transcription of "less" is /lɛs/.

What does "less" mean?▾

Less: A smaller amount or quantity.

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